Anne of Greengables
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center stage Anne of SCENE 1 Narrator 3: Matthew and Marilla Characters Narrator 1: Just north of are getting on in years and have Nova Scotia in the Gulf of decided to adopt a young boy, (main characters in boldface ) St. Lawrence is Prince Edward thinking he can help them Island. On a small, triangular around the farm. On this, a gorgeous summer day, Matthew Narrators 1, 2, 3 peninsula that juts out from that Green Gables island is a community called enjoys a slow drive to the train station in his horse-drawn Matthew Cuthbert, a farmer Avonlea. There are many farms in Avonlea, but the farm we are buggy to greet his new son. When he arrives to find no boy Stationmaster interested in is the one up on in sight, he questions the When an elderly couple decides to adopt a young boy, the hill—the one known as Green Gables. stationmaster. They get the surprise of their lives. Anne Shirley, an 11-year-old girl Narrator 2: The proprietors of Matthew Cuthbert: Excuse me, should the 5:30 train be arriving By L. M. Montgomery • Adapted by Bryon Cahill Marilla Cuthbert, Matthew’s sister the farm are an elderly brother and sister named Matthew and shortly? I’m expecting a young Illustrations by Julia Denos Diana Barry, Anne’s friend Marilla Cuthbert. Neither has boy from the orphanage. married or had any children. Stationmaster: The 5:30 train 6 READ April 13 , 2007 April 13 , 2007 READ 7 has been in and gone half an that he cannot tell her that ever happened to me! you know it? know what’s going to happen as if he is about to say some - hour ago. There was only one there has been a mistake. Narr 3: Something like a Matthew: Well, now, she’s a through the day, and there’s so thing. passenger who got off—a little Matthew: I’m sorry I was late. reluctant smile, rather rusty really nice little thing, Marilla. much scope for the imagination. Anne: I think Matthew is lovely! girl. I told her she could wait Come along. The horse is over from long disuse, mellows It’s kind of a pity to send her It’s all very well to read about He is so very sympathetic. He inside, but she informed me in the yard. Give me your bag. Marilla’s grim expression. back when she’s so set on sorrows and imagine yourself doesn’t mind how much I talk. gravely that she preferred to living through them heroically, Anne: Oh, I can carry it. It isn’t Marilla: Well, don’t cry staying. I felt he was a kindred spirit as stay outside. “There was more but it’s not so nice when you soon as I saw him. scope for imagination,” she heavy. I’ve got all my worldly anymore. We’re not going to Marilla: You don’t mean to say really come to have them, is it? goods in it, but it isn’t heavy. turn you away tonight. What’s we ought to keep her! Marilla: Well, you’re both said. She’s a case, I should say. Marilla: For pity’s sake, hold Oh, I’m very glad you’ve come, your name? Matthew: We might be some strange enough, if that’s what Matthew: I don’t understand. We even if it would have been nice your tongue. You talk entirely you mean by “kindred spirit.” are expecting a boy. Anne: Will you please call me good to her. too much for a little girl. to sleep in a wild cherry tree. Cordelia? Narr 3: Anne goes to the sink Stationmaster: Well, you’d better Marilla: Matthew Cuthbert, I Narr 1: Matthew leads Anne to Marilla: Is that your name? believe the child has bewitched to wash the dishes. When she question the girl. I daresay his buggy, and together they is finished, she retreats up the she’ll be able to explain. She’s Anne: Well, no, not exactly, but you! There’s something I don’t ride to Green Gables. For the understand about her. We’ll have stairs to the room in which she got a tongue of her own, that’s entire trip, Anne talks nonstop I would love to be called slept the night before. for certain. Cordelia. It’s such a perfectly to send her back tomorrow. about the beauty of nature all Narr 1: Marilla and Matthew Narr 1: The stationmaster around them. elegant name. Matthew: Well, now, it’s just as you say, of course, Marilla. I’m have a conversation about Anne finishes locking up the ticket Marilla: I don’t know what on and decide that, even though office and walks away. earth you mean. If Cordelia going to bed. SCENE 2 they had originally wanted a Narr 2: Matthew approaches the isn’t your name, then what is? Narr 2: Matthew rises from his boy, they will keep the girl. Narr 2: When Matthew and chair and walks off to his room. girl cautiously. She is a child of Anne: Anne Shirley. But, oh, Narr 2: Marilla calls Anne back Anne arrive at Green Gables, Marilla sits at the table and about 11, dressed in a very won’t you please call me down to tell her the news. short, very tight, very ugly Marilla comes briskly out of the Cordelia? It can’t matter much continues to consider the dress of yellowish gray. She house to meet them. to you what you call me if I’m young girl. ?For pity?s Marilla: Matthew and I have decided to keep you, Anne. wears a faded brown sailor hat, Marilla Cuthbert: Matthew only going to be here a little That is, if you will try to be a and beneath the hat, extending Cuthbert, who’s that? Where is while. And Anne is such an SCENE 4 sake, hold your down her back, are two braids good girl and show yourself the boy? unromantic name! Narr 3: In the morning, Anne of thick red hair. tongue. You grateful. Why, child, whatever Matthew: There wasn’t any boy. Marilla: Unromantic fiddlesticks! goes down to the kitchen to is the matter now? Anne Shirley: I suppose you are There was only her. Anne is a good, plain, sensible join Matthew and Marilla for talk entirely too Mr. Matthew Cuthbert of Green name! Come inside now. We’ll breakfast. Anne: I’m crying. I can’t think Anne: Gables. I’m very glad to see You don’t want me! I much for a why. I am as glad as can be. Oh, figure this all out in the Anne: Perhaps you think it you. I was beginning to be afraid might have expected it. glad doesn’t seem the right morning. doesn’t make any difference to little girl.? you weren’t coming for me, and Nobody’s ever wanted me! I word at all. Oh, it’s something me that you’re not going to keep I was imagining all the things might have known it was all too Narr 1: Anne eats her breakfast much more than glad! me, but it does. However, I am that might have happened to beautiful to last. Oh, what shall SCENE 3 in silence. not in the depths of despair this Narr 3: Anne suddenly pauses prevent you. I had made up my I do? I’m going to burst into Narr 1: That night, Anne sleeps morning. The world doesn’t Marilla: Can you wash the with a serious thought on her mind that if you didn’t come tears! uneasily in the guest room seem such a howling wilderness dishes right? mind. tonight, I’d go down to that big Marilla: Well, there’s no need to while Matthew and Marilla as it did last night. I’m so glad it’s wild cherry tree at the bend and cry about it. Anne: Pretty well. I’m better at Anne: Marilla, do you think I discuss the matter in the a sunshiny morning. But I like climb up into it and stay all looking after children, though. should ever have a best friend Anne: Yes, there is need! You kitchen. rainy mornings really well too. night. I wouldn’t be a bit afraid, Marilla: Well, there certainly here in Avonlea? A really kindred would cry, too, if you were an Marilla: Well, this is a pretty All sorts of mornings are inter - and it would be lovely to sleep won’t be any more children spirit to whom I can confide my orphan and had to come to a kettle of fish! This girl will have esting, don’t you think? You don’t in a wild cherry tree all white around here. You’re problem innermost soul? I’ve dreamed place you thought was going to to go back to the orphanage with bloom in the moonshine, enough, and Matthew is a most of meeting her all my life. be home and found that the tomorrow. vocab don’t you think? people didn’t want you because BEWITCHED: charmed, as if ridiculous man. Marilla: Well, Diana Barry lives Matthew: Yes, I suppose so. Narr 3: Looking into the child’s you weren’t a boy! Oh, this is by magic Narr 2: Matthew, who has been over in Orchard Slope. She’s a glowing eyes, Matthew decides the most tragical thing that has Marilla: You suppose so! Don’t KINDRED: of a similar nature quiet this whole time, looks up very nice little girl.